Japan: Gendarme finds first Grade 1 win in Sprinters Stakes

The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred Gendarme won his first Grade 1 race in a 28-1 upset in Sunday’s $2.2 million Sprinters Stakes at Nayakama Racecourse in Japan for his sixth stakes win in a career that began in 2017.

Gendarme closed from third in a field of 16 under jockey Kiwamu Ogino to lead in the stretch and hold off a late threat from 25-1 Win Marvel. Gendarme ($59.30 in American pools) won by a neck over Win Marvel, who finished three-quarters of a length in front of 23-1 Naran Huleg.

Gendarme broke quickly and settled behind First Force and T M Spada, who disputed the early pace.

“We had a good (start) and were able to race smoothly as he handled the break smoothly,” Ogino said told Japan Racing Association publicity. “The horse responded well in the stretch and I think he was able to show his strength.

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“I was aware of the closing horses, but I just concentrated on letting the horse do his best.”

Ogino won his first Grade 1 race in the Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs.

Meikei Yell, the 8-5 favorite, finished 14th of 16 after a wide trip in which she was as close as fourth in the opening furlongs.

Gendarme, by Kitten’s Joy, races for owner Koji Maeda and trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, and has won 7 of 29 starts.

The Sprinters Stakes was Gendarme’s second stakes win of 2022. He won the Grade 3 Ocean Stakes at six furlongs on March 5, but was 11th behind Naran Huleg in the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on March 27 and 17th in a Grade 3 race at six furlongs in August.

Gendarme is out of Believe, a Sunday Silence mare who won the 2002 Sprinters Stakes.

Naran Huleg was attempting to become the first horse in four years to sweep Japan’s two Grade 1 sprints.

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